Elk River Lutheran Church - ELCA

Pastor Cyndi Ganzkow-Wold

Lucy, from the Peanuts comic strip, famously says, “I love humanity, it’s people I can’t stand”. Jesus says love the neighbor, as you love yourself. Who do you believe?

At ERLC we believe Jesus, just as we believe in Jesus. And so we listen to what He says, and try to model our behavior after His. But each of us knows that what Lucy is saying is true; that the idea of loving humanity is so much easier than trying to love a specific stubborn Norwegian-American, or hardheaded German-American.

And all we have in our families, or in our family of faith are those specific people, with thoughts, habits, plans and idiosyncrasies different that our own. This is what makes being a loving congregation so hard – people!

But love we do. And forgive, and listen, and live to try again another day. This is why grace is so essential to Lutherans – we are realists. Building a congregation, building a church is difficult business, because people’s feelings get hurt, because people’s gifts aren’t realized or used, because people have competing visions of what we could be, and how to get there. And that’s why these first months of our life together have been so precious, because we are all trying very hard to listen and to encourage and to forgive and to try again and again and again, until we are knit together with trust and love.

God has a place for you to shine your light and love within this congregation. We have a place for you to learn about Jesus, and we have a place for you to teach others about Jesus. As our congregational structure grows, more and more opportunities are planned that will allow you to find your place within the whole. And that is my goal, that each of you knows what gifts God has given you, and that you want to share them with the congregation, and with God’s world.

So here are a few right now. Please find your place.

Gospel of Mark Study, Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the back room. Books, coffee, and interesting people await you.
Charter Sunday II and II, this Sunday, Nov. 7^th and Nov. 14^th. The Charter book is open again for those of you not able to be at the Charter party in September. Pictures will be taken; the book is open and ready for you and your family to sign. Kazoos optional!
Augsburg College Vesper Advent Worship, at Minneapolis Central Lutheran, downtown Minneapolis. Our Adult Faith Formation Committee has obtained 20 tickets for this exceptional experience; I know you will want to attend! The sanctuary is glorious, and the sound of the Augsburg college singers wafting down from the balconies is enough to make a grown person cry. The decorating is thoughtful, and their use of space is inspiring. Sign up on Sunday for tickets, car pools available for planning.
Sarah’s Oasis for Women Shelter needs single, warm bedding. Please bring to church, drop off boxes will be provided. They should be clean and nice, but don’t need to be new.

Every church needs to be known for something special, I hope we can be known as a loving, learning, joy-filled, sharing, caring, forgiving, forgiven congregation! Only by God’s grace!

With joy,

Pastor Cyndi

To see Roger Ostby introducing Pastor Cyndi to the congregation and her initial response, click here.